Chase left OmniCorp in a state of controlled triumph. The meeting with Lilith had gone exactly as planned: he had asserted control, established an exclusive, regulated boundary around his Essence, and transformed the Alpha's predatory ownership into a mutually beneficial contract. The day had been smooth, and the newfound respect from the monster employees was palpable.
He walked toward the subway, savoring the subtle, yet distinct, spiritual acknowledgment he now received from the monster community he passed. He no longer just smelled; he was recognized as an asset under powerful, exclusive protection.
However, as he neared his apartment complex, the familiar hum of the city's spiritual background began to grate against his nerves. The feeling was subtle, a discordant vibration in the delicate balance of his surroundings. His warrior instinct, honed over centuries, sharpened immediately. Something was off.
The feeling intensified as he reached the fourth floor. Standing at his apartment door, he could sense it clearly: a chaotic blend of demonic energy, the familiar, unstable signature of his roommate, and a third, entirely unwelcome presence.
He pressed his hand against the cold metal of his briefcase, the leather digging into his palm. He already knew who the third entity was.
"Why the hell is that stupid idiot here?"
Opening the door, Chase walked into the living room, bracing himself for the sight.
The scene before him was one of utter, comfortable chaos. Slumped on his expensive sofa was Alex, the Goddess, now inexplicably in her mortal form—a beautiful, but visibly stressed young woman with dull blonde hair, light red skin, and two red horns protruding from her head. She was wearing attire that looked suspiciously like Rixsa's oversized spare clothes. She was nestled between Rixsa and a third demon he had never seen before, and all three were stuffing their faces with the mountain of snacks he had bought for Rixsa's 'digital chaos' fuel.
The new demon was slight, with short, curly dark hair and large horns that curled around her ears. She wore a delicate red and black cheongsam and looked entirely too elegant to be participating in the current snack massacre.
The three figures looked up simultaneously, spotting Chase standing in the doorway, his face a perfect mask of controlled fury.
Chase's composure fractured instantly. His face twitched with raw anger, and his grip on the briefcase hilt became bone-white. He fought a losing battle to remain calm.
"Let me guess," Chase bit out, his voice sharp with sarcasm. "You lost the war. Is that the reason you're in your mortal form, Goddess?"
Alex, shrinking under his glare, fidgeted with the hem of her borrowed hoodie. She avoided eye contact, staring intently at a half-eaten bag of chips.
"Yes," she whispered, nodding quickly in embarrassed confirmation.
Chase took a deep, shuddering breath. He released the hilt of his briefcase, reminding himself that he could not, legally, kill his landlord, even if she was an incompetent deity who had just derailed his entire life plan again.
Gripping the hilt of his briefcase again, he asked, "Do you have all the legal documents for you and your friend?"
"Yea! I made sure to get everything," she said, rushing the words out in a soft whisper, holding up a wrinkled Manila folder that looked dangerously close to being stained with chip grease.
"Can we stay here?"
"Did you remove all traces of yourself from this world so that your enemies can't find you?" Chase pressed, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes, I did! I even got this form to make sure," Alex replied, holding up a small, shimmering piece of parchment that looked suspiciously like a divine exclusion waiver.
Chase sighed, the sound heavy with defeat. He looked at the chaos: a defeated goddess, a perverted demon roommate, and now a third stranger.
"Fine," he conceded. "But this apartment is not a safe house for every refugee you encounter, Alex. And you," he addressed the new demon, who was still silently eating his chips. "What is your name?"
The new demon looked up, dusting her fingers off on her expensive cheongsam. Her expression was one of profound, aristocratic disdain.
"You don't get to name me, human," she stated, her voice a smooth, haughty contralto. "I am Kaelen. And I find your apartment lacking in basic service staff."
Chase stared at her, then back at Alex. "A bratty follower. Perfect."
The apartment was officially full. His simple life was now a crowded, dangerous joke.
"Why are you even staying here? Do you not have any more apartments?" Chase demanded, his gaze sweeping over the lavish living space that was now hosting three freeloaders.
"No. I sold everything I had left to pay for my debt. That's why we have to stay here," Alex confessed, her voice barely audible.
"Great, just great," Chase muttered. This wasn't just temporary hiding; this was permanent relocation.
Walking to his room, Chase decided that he would just find a solution for this problem later. He did have a large amount of money after investing in stocks; after living for so long in his previous life, you gain the knowledge to make a lot of money fast. Unlike others who had to grow their minds, he had the intelligence of an ancient man as a baby. He just needed sleep before tackling the Goddess's financial ruin.
The apartment is now a permanent residence for the defeated Goddess and her two chaotic followers.